Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-18
The Care and Management Of Infants
and Young Children.

Thousands OF children III Ohio die
every year from improper care and bad
surroundings. 1t is estimated that out
of one hundred liYe-born children,
from forty to fifty will die before the
close of the fifth year. That q large
proportion of these deaths could be
prevented, is we'll established, and the
State Board of Health has presented
herewith, in simple form, instructions
for the care and management Of chill
dren, which, if followed, will be the
means of saving each year many
precious lives.
In seeking for the cause of this ex-
cessive infant mortality, we f1nd that
the acute infectious fevers, such as
measles. diphtheria, smallpox, scarlet
fever and whooping-cOugh; infiamma-
tions of the respiratory apparatus, as
pneumonia, bronchitis, etc., ana diar-
rhoeal diseases, are the main factors IN
producing it. .f
Smallpox, scarlet fever. diphtheria,
etc. are to be prevented by avoiding
exnosure to the diseases, or to cloth
inc or other articles containing the
no3son by which they are caused.
tn is to be specially urged that chill
dren be vaccinated at an early age, and
thus be protected from that dread di-
sease, smallpox. ,....
Circulars on the restriction and pre-
vention of these diseases have been
issued by the Board, and will be sent
to any one on application;
The other causes of death ofchlldren,
viz, inflammation of the lungs ana
diarrhoeal diseases, may be largely pre-
vented by precaution in regard 10 eA,
posure and diet. Great care is heeueo
with little children, to provide them
with proper clothing.
The first want of new born babe is
heat, 1t is unable to supply sufilcient
heat to keep itself warm, even when
heavily clothed; hence, unless con-
stantly in bed with its mother during
Z first week or two of life, the rooms
sindabits must be constantly kept
AS the child grows older, and is
placed, as it should always be, to sleep
bv itself it will often, by its restless
ness, become uncovered at night. 1t
should sleep in night dresses of flannel,
preferably made as one garment and
sewed up at the bottom, so the feet cam
not become uncovered.
Clothing for children should always
be made very loose, giving their limbs
and lungs free movement. 1t IS When
children are old enough to walk and be
ont of doors, that the greatest care is
demanded for protecting them by
nroper clothing. 1t is at this age that
deaths so frequently occur from acute
inflammatory affections of the lungs,
and this is undoubtedly due to ex-
posure and improper dress. Care must
be taken to clothe the limbs and chest
warmly. Mothers are often negligent
in this respect, and children may
frequently be seen in cold weather,
clothed in heavy skirts and dresses, but
with legs and necks comparatively
bare.
CLEANLINESS.
Attention must be given to cleanli-
ness, and children should not be allowed
to sleep in soiled garments. Clothing
worn at night should be shaken and
thoroughly aired when removed in the
morning. The clothing and napkin:
soiIed by the discharges of young in
fants should be removed at once, anC
not used until washed and thoroughly
dried. The washing and airing should
not be done in the nursery or living
rooms.
Unless children are very feeble they
should have frequent baths, except
when otherwise directed by the physi
clan. If they are too delicate for full
bath, sponging should be substituted
The popular idea that dirty children
are the healthiest, is certainly not true
in regard to nursing infants.
The factor of greatest importance tt
the health of children is their food anC
feeding.
Especially is this true of nursling and
children under two years of age. The
only natural and best possible food fol
an infant is breast milk. If the moth
er has sufficient supply and is in gooC
health, or if suitable wet nurse cal
be secured, nothing but breast and pure
water should be given the child for the
first five or six months. The child i!
very frequently injured by overfeeding
A feverish child, craving water, is of
ten given an inordinate supply of food
by nursing, to quench its thirst. Many
things besides hunger cause children tt
cry and be restless; and as rule, for the
first two months they should not bt
nursed oftener than once in two hours
and older children not so often. From
the first, children should be nursed less
frequently at night. and the mother
must not sleep with her child at the
breast.
After the first week or two the child
should always sleep by itself. The
mother should carefully guard her own
health, using diet as best agrees with
her. She should not give the breast tc
the child when she is greatly fatigueo
or over-heated, nor when suffering un'
der great excitement from any cause
When the mothers milk is insufficient
or the child, for any reason, connot be
nursed, it will be necessary to resort tt
ta ARTIFICIAL FOOD.
This is always an evil, and nothing
but necessity should cause mother tt
resort oit. The one factor of greatest
Importance in infant mortality Is diar
rheal diseases, and these more fire.
uuently occur in children wholly
brought up by hand. When breast
milk cannot be had, cows milk prop,
erly prepared, offers the best substitute
Great care should be exercised to secure
pure milk from healthy, well-fed cows
This is of Importance, and should not
: be neglected. III a.al /. .
The milk should be obtained as fresh
as possible, and kept in cool place in
{ perfectly clean vessels. It would be
J better. perhaps, to Immediately boil the